Quantum physics- What is it? Are any theories related to quantum physics plausible theories?
Quantum physics is defined as the study of the behavior of matter and energy at the molecular, atomic, nuclear, and even smaller macroscopic levels. Quantum physics focuses on the smallest possible level that can be observed or speculated upon by a scientist. However, these small things that quantum physics focuses on, relate to some of the biggest and most speculative theories we can imagine. Quantum physics focuses on many things that some scientists deem impossible or implausible; but the reality is that once upon a time, most modern appliances were once considered to be implausible. For example, in the series, Star Trek,most of the characters had a device that could contact anybody on the planet. This was once looked upon by fans as an amazing and spectacular technological advancement in science fiction, but nobody seriously considered the possibility of an actual working wireless device. Now we have cell phones that not only do what was seen in Star Trek,but things that do much more than even was depicted on television. The point is this: all major scientific discoveries were probably once considered impossible, but some have become a part of our daily lives. Many things that we could never dream of achieving could one day be done, and quantum physics attempts to open the eyes of the nonbelievers. Things like forward and backwards time travel, FTL travel, and parallel universes all have to do with quantum physics. And as far as the modern scientist can tell, these ideas are possible... in theory. Truth be told, until we have the scientific capabilities to test these possibilities, they are only conjectures. (1)
Important scientists who have made discoveries or hypothesis regarding quantum physics include Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Max Born, and many others. Their discoveries and theories are the centerpieces for many modern quantum physics ideas and hypothesis. In many ways, what they discovered and theorized gave birth to modern quantum physics. For example, Einstein's Theory of Relativity regards light and why nothing can move faster than light. This theory and formula developed by Einstein is the "speed limit" for the universe as it were. However, scientists are exploring ways to get around this boundary, and no major advancements or theories would have been introduced without being aware of this law in physics. Or if they had been introduced, they would have very quickly been discarded in testing, and perhaps nobody will have understood why. Scientists greatly appreciate the genius that was Einstein for a number of reasons, this included. (2)
Faster Than Light Travel
It is not possible for an object that has any kind of mass to travel faster than light. This is because light has no mass, meaning any object with any amount of mass has an infinite amount of more mass than light, thus slowing the object down. Einstein developed this theory, and stated that the only reason light can go as fast as it does, is because it is a photon with no mass. (3)
Aware of the Theory of Relativity, there are theoretically ways to get around it. For example, wormholes or theoretical warp drives are ways in which to give the illusion that one has traveled as fast or faster than light, when in reality this is not true, the body of mass actually moved at a set speed slower than that of the speed of light, but gave the appearance that it went much much faster. A wormhole, is basically a tunnel that bends space-time. It is simply a short cut through space. For example, when trying to reach point B from point A on a piece of paper, the fastest possible route would appear to be a straight line. However, if you were to fold that piece of paper in half and punch a hole on point A and B, you would arrive much sooner. Putting this on a much larger scale, it is the same dumb-downed concept of a wormhole. (4)
The only issue that modern science faces with the wormhole is that it is entirely theoretical. Although Einstein acknowledged the existence of wormholes in equation, it is uncertain whether or not he hypothesized about traveling through them. With wormholes come many complications, such as getting stuck in one as it closes, or even just creating one. To create a wormhole, it would take an unimanigable amount of mass in order to bend space-time in such a way, and it would be even more difficult to target a specific location for the destination end of the wormhole. (4)
Theoretical Warp Drive
Another theory in which to give the appearance of travelling faster than light is a theoretical warp drive. Such a device may be able to warp space-time in front of you and behind you in such a way that it would appear as though space-time crumpled around you. In theory, this warp drive would expand space-time behind the mass, and contract space-time in front of it. However, it is unknown whether or not we could "control" space-time in such a way that it moved faster than light, therefore this also presents very serious complications. (5)
Along with not knowing if we could manage to move space-time faster than light, this device's construction would be extremely difficult to begin with. To create it, you would need gargantuan amounts of negative energy. The existence of this energy is still debated on, so this may not even be possible. Also, you would need a device that could control that negative energy so that you aren't constantly warping through space and you have the ability to control your velocity.
As stated, these devices are very possible in theory. However, at least for the time being, only in theory. There is still much that we have yet to learn about these concepts and what it would take to create and control them. It is possible that once created, they could be complete disasters, or completely useless. For right now, they are simply concepts for the modern quantum physicist to contemplate on and explore.
The Uncertainty Principle
Another important law in quantum physics is that of the uncertainty principle. The uncertainty principle basically states that it is not possible to simultaneously to determine both the location and momentum of a particle. The more that is known about the momentum, the less that is known about the location. Likewise for the opposite. This principle was developed in 1927 by Werner Heisenberg. The formula below shows Heisenberg's equation for the uncertainty principle. It shows basically that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously specified. (6)
Parallel Universes
Now on to parallel universes. Arguably the most interesting and skeptical concept in quantum physics. First, parallel universes must be properly defined in order to be understood in a realistic sense. Parallel universes cannot interact with one another. They are simply there in their own space and time. Parallel universes basically allow all choices and possibilities. For example, say a person asks you a yes or no question. Well, in theory, a second universe splits off in which you answer opposite of what you did in this reality. And there is science to back up this theory, according to an experiment conducted by quantum physicists at the University of California in which they were able to make a metal "paddle" about the width of a human hair both move and stand still at the same time. Also, scientists at Oxford have given mathematical equations to prove the existence of parallel universes. Although parellel universes do exist, because they do not interact with each other, one cannot travel from one reality to another. Regardless of what science-fiction tells us, it is basic laws like these that seperates reality from fantasy. (7)
Time Travel
Time travel is directly related to parallel universes.The big problem that was initially thought of when it comes to time travel was that of paradoxes. A paradox is when you go back in time and interfere with something that causes a disturbance in the time you come from. Such as killing your grandfather, which would result in you not being born if you killed him at the right point in his life.However, parallel universes offers an option as to how backwards time travel could still be possible, regardless of paradoxes. (8)
This is because the universe is constantly splitting. Therefore, changing something in the past like the grandfather paradox, does not interfere with the present because you have created an alternate universe in which someone from the future (you) came back and killed your grandfather. Therefore implying that you were simply born a different way. This concept would allow theoretical backwards time travel regardless of what paradoxes you may create or come across. (8)
Table of Contents
Quantum Physics
GoAnimate.com: quantum physics cartoon by cvbillesbach
Quantum physics- What is it? Are any theories related to quantum physics plausible theories?
Quantum physics is defined as the study of the behavior of matter and energy at the molecular, atomic, nuclear, and even smaller macroscopic levels. Quantum physics focuses on the smallest possible level that can be observed or speculated upon by a scientist. However, these small things that quantum physics focuses on, relate to some of the biggest and most speculative theories we can imagine. Quantum physics focuses on many things that some scientists deem impossible or implausible; but the reality is that once upon a time, most modern appliances were once considered to be implausible. For example, in the series, Star Trek, most of the characters had a device that could contact anybody on the planet. This was once looked upon by fans as an amazing and spectacular technological advancement in science fiction, but nobody seriously considered the possibility of an actual working wireless device. Now we have cell phones that not only do what was seen in Star Trek, but things that do much more than even was depicted on television. The point is this: all major scientific discoveries were probably once considered impossible, but some have become a part of our daily lives. Many things that we could never dream of achieving could one day be done, and quantum physics attempts to open the eyes of the nonbelievers. Things like forward and backwards time travel, FTL travel, and parallel universes all have to do with quantum physics. And as far as the modern scientist can tell, these ideas are possible... in theory. Truth be told, until we have the scientific capabilities to test these possibilities, they are only conjectures. (1)
Important scientists who have made discoveries or hypothesis regarding quantum physics include Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Max Born, and many others. Their discoveries and theories are the centerpieces for many modern quantum physics ideas and hypothesis. In many ways, what they discovered and theorized gave birth to modern quantum physics. For example, Einstein's Theory of Relativity regards light and why nothing can move faster than light. This theory and formula developed by Einstein is the "speed limit" for the universe as it were. However, scientists are exploring ways to get around this boundary, and no major advancements or theories would have been introduced without being aware of this law in physics. Or if they had been introduced, they would have very quickly been discarded in testing, and perhaps nobody will have understood why. Scientists greatly appreciate the genius that was Einstein for a number of reasons, this included. (2)
Faster Than Light Travel
It is not possible for an object that has any kind of mass to travel faster than light. This is because light has no mass, meaning any object with any amount of mass has an infinite amount of more mass than light, thus slowing the object down. Einstein developed this theory, and stated that the only reason light can go as fast as it does, is because it is a photon with no mass. (3)
Aware of the Theory of Relativity, there are theoretically ways to get around it. For example, wormholes or theoretical warp drives are ways in which to give the illusion that one has traveled as fast or faster than light, when in reality this is not true, the body of mass actually moved at a set speed slower than that of the speed of light, but gave the appearance that it went much much faster. A wormhole, is basically a tunnel that bends space-time. It is simply a short cut through space. For example, when trying to reach point B from point A on a piece of paper, the fastest possible route would appear to be a straight line. However, if you were to fold that piece of paper in half and punch a hole on point A and B, you would arrive much sooner. Putting this on a much larger scale, it is the same dumb-downed concept of a wormhole. (4)
The only issue that modern science faces with the wormhole is that it is entirely theoretical. Although Einstein acknowledged the existence of wormholes in equation, it is uncertain whether or not he hypothesized about traveling through them. With wormholes come many complications, such as getting stuck in one as it closes, or even just creating one. To create a wormhole, it would take an unimanigable amount of mass in order to bend space-time in such a way, and it would be even more difficult to target a specific location for the destination end of the wormhole. (4)
Theoretical Warp Drive
Another theory in which to give the appearance of travelling faster than light is a theoretical warp drive. Such a device may be able to warp space-time in front of you and behind you in such a way that it would appear as though space-time crumpled around you. In theory, this warp drive would expand space-time behind the mass, and contract space-time in front of it. However, it is unknown whether or not we could "control" space-time in such a way that it moved faster than light, therefore this also presents very serious complications. (5)
As stated, these devices are very possible in theory. However, at least for the time being, only in theory. There is still much that we have yet to learn about these concepts and what it would take to create and control them. It is possible that once created, they could be complete disasters, or completely useless. For right now, they are simply concepts for the modern quantum physicist to contemplate on and explore.
The Uncertainty Principle
Another important law in quantum physics is that of the uncertainty principle. The uncertainty principle basically states that it is not possible to simultaneously to determine both the location and momentum of a particle. The more that is known about the momentum, the less that is known about the location. Likewise for the opposite. This principle was developed in 1927 by Werner Heisenberg. The formula below shows Heisenberg's equation for the uncertainty principle. It shows basically that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously specified. (6)
Parallel Universes
N
Time Travel
Time travel is directly related to parallel universes.The big problem that was initially thought of when it comes to time travel was that of paradoxes. A paradox is when you go back in time and interfere with something that causes a disturbance in the time you come from. Such as killing your grandfather, which would result in you not being born if you killed him at the right point in his life.However, parallel universes offers an option as to how backwards time travel could still be possible, regardless of paradoxes. (8)
This is because the universe is constantly splitting. Therefore, changing something in the past like the grandfather paradox, does not interfere with the present because you have created an alternate universe in which someone from the future (you) came back and killed your grandfather. Therefore implying that you were simply born a different way. This concept would allow theoretical backwards time travel regardless of what paradoxes you may create or come across. (8)
Sources
1. http://physics.about.com/od/quantumphysics/p/quantumphysics.htm
2. http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Physics-Quantum-Theory-Mechanics.htm
3. http://www.allaboutscience.org/theory-of-relativity.htm
4. http://www.andersoninstitute.com/wormholes.html
5. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/warp/ideachev.html
6. http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/UncertaintyPrinciple.html
7. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/05/freaky-physics-proves-parallel-universes/
8. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3307757/Parallel-universe-proof-boosts-time-travel-hopes.html
9. http://science.discovery.com/videos/through-the-wormhole-the-butterfly-effect.html